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SECTION
3 NATURAL RESOURCES CAPITAL STOCK
| 3.6 |
Minerals,
Aggregates and Energy |
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| 3.6.2 |
Impacts
and Resource Constraints |
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| Pressures
on Mining and Aggregate Resources
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| 3.6.2.1 |
Pressure
for competing land uses has brought about
the end of land-based mining for minerals
in Hong Kong. In addition, the continued
aggregates exploitation at existing sites,
and the availability of locations for future
quarries is thought to be limited to around
an additional 2% of the SAR's land area
(WWF 1999). This is because many of Hong
Kong's most versatile aggregates (particularly
unworked granite deposits) lie under the
developed urban areas, and thus cannot be
exploited without considerable disturbance
to existing land uses. Once current aggregate
reserves are fully exhausted, Hong Kong
will become wholly dependent upon imported
aggregates and those which can be worked
from the seabed.
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| 3.6.2.2 |
Marine sand resources are present in a number
of marine borrow areas in local waters including
the Brothers, South Tsing Yi, West Sulphur
Channel, East Lamma Channel and West Po
Toi. The degree to which marine deposits
of sand within Hong Kong waters are exploited
for use as fill will depend on the environmental
constraints applicable to each potential
sand dredging site, the engineering and
cost implications of working areas which
are progressively deeper and more distant
from the project site, and the availability
and cost of alternative sand supplies.
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Pressures
on Energy Supply and Demand |
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| 3.6.2.3 |
Based
on the trends in energy usage identified above,
it is expected that without adoption of counterbalancing
measures, energy demands will continue to
rise as the population of Hong Kong increases
over time. Under a probable scenario for the
period 2000-2010, it is estimated that energy
consumption will increase by 38% for electricity,
by 29% for transport, by 31% for other uses
(domestic and commercial, non-electric), and
decline by 20% for industry, for an overall
increase in the total energy consumption of
approximately 30%. Nearly half of the total
energy consumption in 2010 is expected to
be through use of electricity (ERM 1999a). |
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| 3.6.2.4 |
Such
a projected increase in final energy demand
over time would tend to increase demands on
(imported) primary energy, and increase both
emissions such as NOx, SOx and particulates
that affect the local environment and emissions
such as CO2 that affect the global environment.
Technical and policy measures to moderate
or neutralise this increase would ameliorate
demands on fuel resources and effects on air
quality. Such measures would also help to
reduce land use demands for additional power
plant. Examples of such measures include improving
energy efficiency at the point of end use
(through technology or design changes and
through behavioural changes). |
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| 3.6.2.5 |
Efficiency
gains and reduced impact on the environment
are also possible on the supply side, via
a shift towards cleaner fuels (such as natural
gas) and more efficient generation technologies
(eg combined cycle plants). A move in this
direction has already begun in Hong Kong and
is expected to continue based on resource
planning (ie supply) forecasts. |
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| 3.6.2.6 |
End
users can improve efficiency (and reduce costs)
through measures such as advanced computer
controlled energy management systems for large
buildings. Energy efficient building design
and materials can also improve efficiency,
including for example, the use of water cooled
air conditioning systems which offer significant
energy savings over their air cooled alternatives.
Government can play a major role by setting
energy efficiency standards for, and facilitating
the implementation of utility Demand Side
Management (DSM) programmes, through its regulatory
role. The first DSM programmes, which will
encourage consumers to choose more efficient
equipment with lower electricity consumption,
were launched on 1 July 2000. |
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| 3.6.2.7 |
Household
wastage of energy occurs when appliances are
used unnecessarily or indiscriminately, such
as leaving lights or water heaters turned
on when not being used. Proper maintenance
of household appliances may also reduce energy
wastage, particularly in older appliances.
Wastage also occurs in the commercial sector
when heating, ventilation, air conditioning
and lighting systems are needlessly or inappropriately
operated by building managers, eg overcooling
of buildings. |
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